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Recount to contested Missouri House election is over but candidates summoned back to Election Board

Sloane Heller

11:34 AM, Sep 8, 2010

3:40 PM, Sep 8, 2010

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Recount ends with similar results

KSHB

Will Royster and John Rizzo

Copyright 2010 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

KANSAS CITY, Missouri - A recount in the election for Missouri’s 40th House
District is over and John Rizzo is still the Democratic
nominee.

Wednesday afternoon, NBC Action News was told Rizzo won by one
vote – 664 to 663.

Will Royster requested a new election after losing the initial
election by a count of 667 votes to 664 for John Rizzo.

Royster said at least 30 votes were cast illegally in two
precinct polling locations, one at the Kansas City Museum and the
other at Garfield Elementary.

Some votes, Royster claimed, weren't properly signed and
certified and others were cast illegally by one interpreter for
several Somalis.

A Jackson County judge denied the request for the new election
Tuesday and the issue went to a recount held Wednesday at the
Kansas City Election Board.

The results came back just after 11 a.m. with Rizzo winning by a
count of 702 to 688. But that number changed again by the Kansas
City Election Board around 3:30 p.m. The recount was behind closed
doors and details of the change could not be shared.

"Moving on finally, I'm happy to get started, we're going to run
the general campaign and go from there but we are very happy to
move on," said Rizzo.

When asked about the lawsuit, Rizzo said, "Everybody voted the
way they wanted to and the issues from my opponent were baseless
saying that people were electioneering and out of scope... and I'm
sure when the Judge issues his opinion we'll find that out."

Copyright 2010 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.